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Loud interference noise when using 4s with Aux jack for car stereo

I'm getting a very noticeable electronic noise when using my new AT&T 4s through the aux jack on my car stereo to play any music stored on it. It starts immediatly when I hit play on any of the mp3s and when I hit pause, the noise continues for 5 to 10 seconds with no music playing and then finally switches off. I get it no matter what the volume settings on the car stereo or iPhone 4s. The car stereo has a Aux input level control and tried lowering it and still get the same level of interference noise. Tried treble/bass controls as well. Noise is always there and isn't changed by any of those. Tried putting it in airplane mode to disable antenna to see if this was some kind of cellular related interference, still there. Same thing with wi-fi on and off.

Car is 2008 BMWx3.

Setup: iPhone connected via 3.5mm stereo cable to the aux connector in my car. I have a spare cable so tried it and getting the same loud noise. I ran this setup for years with no problems with my iPhone 3gs. I just did a side by side comparison with 3gs, a old ipod nano, and 4s while car parked with engine on or off. 3gs and ipod all you hear is music, no electronic noise. 4s as soon as you hit play, the noise kicks in.

This is going to drive me crazy because I easily use my iphone to listen to music at least 50% of anytime I'm driving. This noise is loud enough that it interfers with the music quality and makes AM radio sound good by comparison.

Posted on Oct 16, 2011 5:46 PM

29 replies

Oct 21, 2011 1:36 PM in response to Moosetrax

I'm still reading through the thread here but that is BS. I've used every single iPhone model through my same car radio. This is the only model with a background noise issue. I just lost the three heaviest hours of my iPhone use each day (morning/evening commute). I'm so flippin' angry.

Oct 21, 2011 1:46 PM in response to Aloha Spirit

Please everyone go here as suggested and report the issue:

http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html

This is soooo maddening! I suggest using the thread title here as the subject (Loud interference noise when using 4s with aux jack for car stereo). Everyone impacted should report it this is unacceptable.

This seems like a reallly really big issue to me but maybe not many of us use our iPhone through the car stereo? It's turned my iPhone into a brick for the three hour round trip work commute each day. What a disappointment!

I've had every single iPhone model and plugged each one into the same car stereo of the same car with the same jack (cuz who can afford to buy a new car when you spend so much money with Crapple?). So don't except an answer from Crapple that suggests "It's not me it's you".

They know. They have to know by know. I'm angry that they told mini-cooper guy above the problem was on his end.

Oct 24, 2011 5:14 AM in response to taquitopete

Three things if interest that I have learned from these forums:

1. The problem does not seem to effect Honda's. After I read a post on these forums from someone saying they had no problems with thier Honda, I tried my 4S in my wifes 07 Honda Civic and it worked perfectly. This lends a little credence to Apples suggestion that it could be the Audio Connector Kit Firmware.

2. Pocket Dock by SendStation sold on Amazon may be an alternative. It is an adapter that plugs into the charging port and has a headphone jack. This has worked for others on the forums who didn't mind spending some more cash.

3. Contact Apple and your auto maker. If you have this problem you should report it to the Apple Tech Feedback at http://www.apple.com/feedback/iphone.html. Also, consider contacting your Auto Dealer / Maker to inform them of the issue and inquire about a Audio Firmware update. It's impossible to tell where the problem lies so it would behoove you to speak to both.

Oct 26, 2011 7:03 PM in response to Moosetrax

Confirmed, Pocket Dock by Send Station will resolve this issue at a price similar to a new cord.

http://www.amazon.com/SendStation-PDLO-MiU5-PocketDock-Adapter-iPhone/dp/B002ACN ZFI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319680637&sr=8-1

Nov 1, 2011 4:50 PM in response to Aloha Spirit

I had similar noise problems with my 3GS that turned out to be a contact misalignment between the phone's 3.5mm jack and the plug I was using. Perhaps the 4S's contacts are too far out of alignment with typical plugs.

Nov 3, 2011 10:06 AM in response to Aloha Spirit

I get the same interference noise when I'm next to my MacBook pro...

Aloha Spirit Author

Level 1

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Nov 5, 2011 2:54 AM in response to Moosetrax

I got the send station pocket dock and the issue is resolved for now with my BMW X3. The high pitched noise is completely gone. Tested it with a bunch of different mp3s on my 4s. Sound quality is excellent. Actually notice the highs and bass are coming in much more pronounced now, then when I used the headphone jack. And it's nice because I also got a USB cable charger for the cigarette lighter so I can charge while listening to music, taking calls, or whatever just like before. Both cables fit perfectly into the pocket dock inputs. The pocket dock connector fits perfectly into the 4s sync connector as well.

Couple of things:

I would warn anyone against trying to plug the charger into the cigarette lighter while your listening to music. You'll get a very loud electrical pop through your speakers. Just plug it in before you start listening to music, or pause the music, then plug it in.

Make sure the audio cable is inserted all the way into the pocketdock connector. If it's even a hair out, you'll lose the right side of your audio signal immediately. Even though I would like to use the thicker tougher 3.5 cable I used with the headphone jack previously that was bought at Best Buy, even with it shoved in all the way into the pocket dock jack, I still lose the right side of the audio. Since the pocketdock cable is very thin, I would be careful to just keep it shoved down along the passenger side seat, but make sure it doesn't get stuck when moving the seat back or forth in the gear track.

I was loving driving around today cranking my music. Sounds great.

Issue resolved for me so last post here. Good luck everyone. Hopefully they still get the headphone jack issue fixed eventually.

goofie61

Level 1

8 points

Nov 23, 2011 9:06 AM in response to Aloha Spirit

my son's ipod is working fine in our car thru UNIVERSAL CONSUMER INTERFACE (UCI) ,then when i connected my iphone 4S it shows error. then i tried the aux as my alternate option but unfortunately has the same problem as yours the hissing ang crackling sound. i tried to lower the volume from the iphone it didnt make any change,then i max the volume from iphone and lower the volume from the strereo and its still the same sound horrible.

Nov 23, 2011 9:18 AM in response to Aloha Spirit

I put a verbal complaint in with Apple regarding this, 30 minutes on the phone followed by numerous emails back and forth, Apple engineers are still saying they can't replicate the issue!

Really annoying as everyone on here obviously can.

Nov 29, 2011 1:58 AM in response to Aloha Spirit

hy there

got the same problems with my ipod nano 7th (after my perfect working nano 4th got stolen)... found some treads about this problem with nano 6th...

connected with 3.5mm jack to my logitech squeezebox - works

with the same cable in the car - works not

with the same cable in the car but with my iPhone 4 - works

stupid... i bought the newest nano, but my stolen 3 year old one was better!? makes me angry.

regards

Foxeee

Level 1

0 points

Feb 19, 2012 10:49 AM in response to Aloha Spirit

I'm getting exactly the same problem with my itouch 4th edition! Like others I've tried different leads but to no avail. Infuriating as I went for the itouch as the screen made in car usage easier than the ipod wheel design!

Apr 4, 2012 1:29 PM in response to Aloha Spirit

I have the same problem and have just submitted feedback as suggested:

"I have found that my iPhone 4s has an awfull interference 'whine' when I connect the iphone headphone jack to the aux. input jack on my car stereo to play music (car is a 2011 BMW 320d fitted with the standard 'BMW professional' stereo. I had previously used an old iPod classic in this way with no problems. Help me obi wan kenobi, your my only hope..."

My local BMW garage offered me a 'iPod/iPhone interface connector' which sounded great, until they said this would cost £420!

I have seen some cables which plug into the main iPhone connector and adapt to a USB and stereo jack, apparently this will solve the problem?

shawn01

Level 1

0 points

Apr 24, 2012 10:55 AM in response to Aloha Spirit

http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20071231014727222

Apr 24, 2012 11:10 AM in response to GarlicBreadIsTheFuture

Update, I bought the lead I previously described for £3 off amazon and it has solved the problem for me (and now my phone also gets charged)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B005D5B2OK/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00

Loud interference noise when using 4s with Aux jack for car stereo